NHTSA Complaint #11180538 — 2016 KIA SOUL

AFTER A SHORT DRIVE, I PARKED MY 2016 KIA SOUL IN THE GARAGE AND 15 MINUTES LATER I HEARD A NOISE IN THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE STATIONARY KIA. THE ENTIRE GARAGE CAUGHT FIRE AND INCLUDED MY OTHER CAR WHICH WAS AN INFINITI G35. THE PRIMARY FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD/FRONT RIGHT FENDER SEAM WITH MINOR FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE KIA. WE KNOW THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE KIA SOUL. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD, HAD APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES, AND HAD ONLY BEEN SERVICED ONCE AT THE HENDERSON KIA DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK WAS THE FUEL VAPOR LEAK BECAUSE MY SON'S 2016 KIA FORTE, ALSO PURCHASED FROM HENDERSON KIA, HAD A SEVERE FUEL VAPOR LEAK THAT HE HAD REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER MY KIA SOUL FIRE. THE SPEED OF MY GARAGE FIRE IS CONSISTENT WITH A FUEL VAPOR LEAK THAT WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE HENDERSON KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MY SON'S KIA FORTE. WE HAD TO MOVE OUT OF OUR HOME FOR FIVE MONTHS WHILE THE HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THERE WAS OVER $142,000 DAMAGE TO OUR HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.